Tourist Visa before the interview

[bav 0]

Hi People,

I have somewhat of a special condition..Please help me as its a little confusing

I am a doctor in India and my fiance is in US( he is a doc as well) We got our NOA1 on 11-10-06 and now waiting for NOA2 ( california)

I have been to US once 2yrs ago on a tourist visa.

Now I have to take an exam in Los Angeles (for my MD degree) and that can be done only before May 15th. Getting a Visa for that exam is very easy to get from India ( as every doctor who wishes to practice here has to take it).

I applied for a tourist visa in August 06 for this test and I even interviewed, but the pre-requisite for taking this test in US is if you have cleared another one( in India), So I was told to pass my earlier test( in India) and take the Visa for the US exam when the results came, they gave me a yellow ticket, which means that i just show up at the consulate without appointment and I'll be given an interview.

Then 3 months after this I filed for the K1. Before the fiance thing happened (I was planning to come here in April), but now with a K1 in the process, I fear that if I goto the consulate asking for a tourist visa, they will refuse and I will lose the fees for the test -$ 1500.

what do I do?

Goto Embassy and risk the visa and hope this doesnt delay my K1 or just say goodbye to the $ 1500 and take the test when I come to US ( God knows when!!)

To all the people here , do you think with the current timelines my NOA2 might come by february? How long does it take after the NOA2 to get the interview...seems like its approx 3-4mos.

Please help...

Too confused

Thanks

Bav

[MPGGPM 0]

Hi People,

I have somewhat of a special condition..Please help me as its a little confusing

I am a doctor in India and my fiance is in US( he is a doc as well) We got our NOA1 on 11-10-06 and now waiting for NOA2 ( california)

I have been to US once 2yrs ago on a tourist visa.

Now I have to take an exam in Los Angeles (for my MD degree) and that can be done only before May 15th. Getting a Visa for that exam is very easy to get from India ( as every doctor who wishes to practice here has to take it).

I applied for a tourist visa in August 06 for this test and I even interviewed, but the pre-requisite for taking this test in US is if you have cleared another one( in India), So I was told to pass my earlier test( in India) and take the Visa for the US exam when the results came, they gave me a yellow ticket, which means that i just show up at the consulate without appointment and I'll be given an interview.

Then 3 months after this I filed for the K1. Before the fiance thing happened (I was planning to come here in April), but now with a K1 in the process, I fear that if I goto the consulate asking for a tourist visa, they will refuse and I will lose the fees for the test -$ 1500.

what do I do?

Goto Embassy and risk the visa and hope this doesnt delay my K1 or just say goodbye to the $ 1500 and take the test when I come to US ( God knows when!!)

To all the people here , do you think with the current timelines my NOA2 might come by february? How long does it take after the NOA2 to get the interview...seems like its approx 3-4mos.

Please help...

Too confused

Thanks

Bav

For $1,500....I'd at least give it a shot. You know for SURE you'll lose the $1,500 if you DON'T try......but there is a possibility that you might get the tourist visa and not lose the $1,500 if you DO try.

I have heard of cases where people were given a tourist visa, even when applied for during the process of doing an I-130...k-1..etc (one example from the Russia forum on this website comes to mind..where they were successful). I also don't think it will cause a delay in your k-1, just for attempting to get a tourist visa . (although I am not 100% positive of this last point)

But, given the fact that you could get the tourist visa , coupled with the fact that you stand to lose $1,500 if you don't try...............I definately would attempt to get it.

I think the best thing for you to do is, call your consulate/embassy...........explain your situation to them.............or better yet, make an appointment to meet someone in person BEFORE you go to the tourist visa interview and explain to them face to face your situation.

The consulate/embassy knows situations like this can happen. They DO make exceptions for certain cases......and your situation is not impossible. Just difficult.

But if you are convincing, and can persuade the consulate/embassy that you will definately return to India to await you K-1, you stand a chance that you might get the tourist visa. The fact that you have eventual immigrant intent makes your situation more difficult.......but not impossible.

I think you should try. The most you stand to lose is denial of your tourist visa...and a loss of $100 or so dollars (sounds a lot better than losing $1,500 though).

Good luck.